Alright, so this chapter is 8537 words before author's notes and good news. I am nearly done with the chapter after this one too!
Start Chapter 15
Shikamaru could feel sweat drip down his neck at the pure blood lust that exuded from the disturbed looking redhead. It nearly froze him up when that blood lust was aimed at him. He took a shuddering breath. Eyeing Harri, crap... he was so creeping on Harri. Wait... was the guy... jealous? He wanted to say no, that wasn't true, because he was certain Harri didn't know that boy... But there really wasn't any way of understanding the mind of someone that's mental instability showed through so strongly they could have had it printed on their forehead over that weird love tattoo? Wait, no, did that guy have love branded on his forehead? Great, just their luck. Attracting unwanted attention before the exams had even really begun.
"Where have you been the last few days Harri? I was really worried about you! I mean you kind of just disappeared without saying a thing." Shikamaru finished, rubbing the back of his neck. He tried his best to ignore the murderous glares the freaky red-haired boy gave him.
"Oh! Sorry, Shika... I just... I-I decided that I needed to get in some major training before this started." Harri said, giving his friend a meaningful look that Shikamaru was able to infer, hinted at the fact that he had been bedridden not too long ago. It was likely the first time the other had trained since getting back.. Though Shikamaru was feeling a mixture between hurt and annoyed that his friend really thought that he could trick him into thinking that was his only reason. Right. Sorry, but they had known each other inside and out since Harri was still in pull-ups. No lies would get past him.
Harri told him every little detail of his life all the time, every day. They still slept in the same bed 95% of the time because Harri was just over that much and neither could go more than a day or two, unless forced, without spending at least a few hours together. They were inseparable and had been since they were tiny. Obviously, something had deeply disturbed Harri in some way if he wasn't willing to come to Shikamaru about it. Probably didn't want to burden him. The boy decided, biting his lip to keep from blurting the questions running through his mind at lightning speed. How troublesome!
Shikamaru sighed, "Okay. Well, I'm just glad you're alright. Dad was kind of freaking out too, so you're going to have to reassure him and all of that troublesome stuff once we get out of here, alright? Dinner at our house as usual?" He asked, deciding to leave whatever it was Harri wasn't willing to talk about be. He was sure his friend would tell him once he had figured through whatever was bothering him and then Shikamaru would reassure him and tease him about keeping something from him. Then he would make sure Harri would be reminded that he could always come to him and he would always help his friend work out whatever it was stressing him out. Then, it would be fixed and everything would go back to how it should be. Harri happy and being himself. Then no more avoiding.
"Of course!" Harri said, smiling tentatively as he felt a little better.
Annoyance burned through Gaara as he tried to figure out the dynamic between Harri and this other boy. He didn't like the fact that the pineapple head had pretended he wasn't there and had completely distracted his Princess from him. He had even had the gull to invite him for food right in front of him. Gaara felt so lost. Mother demanded he not allow the other male to gain any footing with Harri, that he demand to be allowed to provide food for his Angel. It was what mate's did, after all. If mother insisted upon it than mother must know what to do. Mother always knew what to do. The panicked feelings faded to a buzz at the instruction. "I will be-"
"Get to your assigned places, brats!" A gruff voice barked before he could even command the other boy to eat with him. Gaara was angry at that point he turned to give the man a pointed glare but he had just enough self-control not to go after the man there and then, at least not yet. Harri was already heading to his seat before Gaara could say a single thing to him. He dug his fingernails into his pant leg before stiffly making his way to a spot with his name on it. He would just have to make his intentions and dominance absolutely unmistakeable once they were done. Gaara nearly snorted when the test and its rules were explained to them. Too easy.
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Harri was ready to dive over the tables and run out the door once he realized who he was placed at a table with. Another Hyuuga, really? He forced a deep breath through his nose and out his mouth like he had been taught. He had no need to freak out. He had his necklace on. He didn't need to panic. As long as he didn't look his way with his Byakugan than Harri would be fine. Harri was on an end so he really wouldn't have a reason to pay much attention to him.
"You may begin. Remember, don't let me catch you cheating!" The scarred man said.
None of what was on the paper made any sense! How was he supposed to know this? You obviously needed a code key to answer these! After a few minutes of sitting and pondering, Harri began noticing things. People slipping each other pieces of paper, using jutsu and other means to cheat off of each other. Oh. He felt so dumb! Harri had thought it was strange that the man watching was emphasizing to not cheat and that he better not see them do so, so much! Harrison would have never thought of cheating. Apparently, that was the name of the game... They must have to cheat to be able to get the answers. Ugh, but he didn't really have any jutsu for that! His water controlling abilities were still absolutely atrocious because of his fear of them. Otherwise, he could have tried to make some sort of mirror... But... he did have his eyes and ears... and a couple of Kunei that he had brought with. It would have to work.
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Harri wasn't 100% satisfied with his way of cheating, but he was pretty sure he managed to get most of what was needed down properly. His attempt was part coping peoples' hand motions and pencil sounds with surprising success it was almost like when he concentrated really hard with his eyes he could almost tell what people were visualizing in a vague sense while they wrote. It was headache and nausea-inducing though and Harri was glad when he finally finished up because he felt like his poor head was ready to pop after that.
Harri decided that his method wouldn't be exactly useful for everyday ninja application let alone a tight spot. The other part was using inference, which he had to do a lot of inferring to even get what he had on the paper. Things that hadn't made sense Harri had simply used what he had figured out about what the original keys must have corresponded with and filled those spots in. The midnight haired boy was pretty sure he had even managed to fill in at least part of the bonus question correctly though he was quite sure it wasn't finished properly.
Harri didn't think he would be getting a 100% on this particular paper, but he was pretty sure he at least got a passing one. Such things would have usually greatly distressed him, but he was along for the ride. Harri had decided the moment he got drug into taking the Chunnin exams that he would try just hard enough that his team had the chance to continue.
"We are 45 minutes into the exam. Is anyone willing to try the bonus question? It is okay if you aren't. If you are and get it wrong... then you can never retake the exams again. If you don't and forfeit now... then you will be allowed to try again next year." Ibiki warned.
Oops... He went ahead again... Though it didn't matter. Harri's brain and instincts insisted that the man was a Liar. His chakra felt... deceptive. Frankly, either way, Harri didn't really care. If he got it wrong, then at least he would be able to finally have a decent argument about why he shouldn't be a shinobi. Though banning a green workforce permanently didn't make any sense, especially in a profession that most died so young. They needed to constantly keep it replenished.. But still one shouldn't promote those to more dangerous positions if they couldn't handle it. So... Harri had a feeling that was also another bluff. Wait... if that was a bluff... Then... Harri groaned, he could have probably left the paper blank for all they cared! It was about being able to keep a level head and readiness to advance or something! This test wasn't about gathering the information at all!
Harri flopped his torso over the table top. Closing his eyes after deciding that didn't need to be alert for the last few minutes of the test.
A loud crash had Harri nearly falling off of the bench he was sitting on holding his chest and looking around with wide eyes.
"N-no! I'm not going to give up! This is my Dream, believe it! I'll never give up no matter what!" Naruto screeched near the front. Of course. Naruto.
Harri sighed. He should have expected something like that he was very loud when trying to convince himself of things after all. Harri was confused as to why he was yelling, though. What had happened that he had missed?
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Harri ignored the crazy lady that dove through the window. She had a snaky smell to her and Harri thought she was rather psychotic and was mostly fear mongering. They probably weren't too happy that Naruto's display had quite a few people that had looked like they were about to raise their hands, stop. They were told to bring essentials for a few days for the next part of the exams, which had Harri less than pleased.
During the speech, Harri had been more worried about watching the Hyuuga, to be honest. The way he rubbed at his eyes and glanced around was unnerving. Thankfully, whatever it was that Hyuugas seemed to feel when super close to Harri didn't come off as bad enough to warrant the boy 2 people down to activate his Byakugun. Thank the gods because Harri wasn't willing to deal with that can of worms, then or ever. Being held captive as a living shrine idol or something along those lines by a bunch of obsessive crazy people willing to melt the brains of and pretty much enslave their branch members was not something Harri wanted anything to do with.
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The dinner at the Nara household had been completely awkward... and that was putting it mildly. Very mildly, though at least Shikaku and Shikamaru did try to make everything less uncomfortable. The obvious hurt feelings of the pair were as clear to Harri as a festering face sore.
Harri decided after the exams were done that he was definitely going to have to have a real honest talk with them. They were too important to him to let himself damage the bonds that he had with the pair. They were everything to him. He felt terrible guilt for hurting them and pushing them away from him. It wasn't like they had ever done anything to cause it. They had been nothing but supportive, caring and trustworthy since the day that he had met the pair. Shikaku was practically his uncle or a parent at this point!
Even though he was reluctant to, Harri headed back to the cold of the compound that night. He was almost thankful that Sasuke was out training somewhere. He rather that, over a confrontation or a lecture. He could at least pack up in peace.
Harri would need to wear something heavy to keep him warm... a jacket or something... He would also need to wear something that would hide his necklace. He remembered getting something that might work from Shikaku a while back. After trying it on Harri decided that it definitely fit the bill. He went through some old clothes hidden away in the attic after that, satisfied when he managed to find some shinobi quality leggings that could easily be tucked into the long, sturdy shin-guarding fabric of his sandals. He didn't usually wear much other than his pretty kimonos, but he was sure that he would need not only extra warmth but protection as well. After packing his bag and double checking it Harri decided it would probably be best to take a shower and head to bed a bit early.
After the shower, Harri pulled out the heated blanket that Iruka and Kakashi had forced on him and plugged it in. He then absently held his blanket up to allow Mai to dive underneath, just like she liked to do most. His thoughts going back to the pair of teachers.
Harri couldn't help but to wonder what had happened with the pair. Neither had appeared or had tried to talk to him in the last few days. It was a bit unusual when, since Harri had begun avoiding everyone, they had been around searching the house more than once.
It was as if the pair had suddenly just disappeared. Harri wondered if it had anything to do with the next part of the exam. It was hard to stay awake and think about those sorts of things though when Harri had already been so emotionally drained that day and the blanket was getting so nice and toasty though... That and Mai's chubby snuggly body and familiar soft snores(Even if coming from the twitching lump crushing his legs) were a comfort in themselves. Even with his mind fighting, it didn't take long for him to get drug into sleep.
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Harri got up early. Trying his best to ignore the look of pure indignation and death on Mai's face for waking her so early and turning off the nice warm blanket they had been sharing. He was still a little tired compared to how he usually would be but more awake than the day before and although nervous, not feeling as down. He quickly got everything together and started on breakfast. He ate as quickly as possible and washed the dishes. Harri nearly giving in to the urge to roll his eyes when Sasuke came stumbling down the stairs looking positively exhausted.
"Finally decided to show your face?" Sasuke grumbled snidely, even as he accepted a plate piled high and gave his cousin a look that couldn't be described as anything but hurt jealousy. Harri wasn't sure what that was about, but something about the look was eerie. "What are you even wearing? I know for a fact that you didn't own anything like that."
"I needed something more suited for an outdoor task... I thought it would help give me more protection... anyway... I'm going to go drop off Mai." Harrison said, ignoring the annoyed, mumblings about Shika and called out to his chunky diva. "Mai-Mai, time to go to Shika's place!" A few moments later Harri was listening to hooves clicking and Mai was uttering positively disgruntled bleats, dragging her stubby legs dramatically.
Harrison smiled and gave Mai a gentle pat on the head before opening the door. And began to jog at a civilian pace. He was sure that Mai was even more annoyed with him for making her run so early in the morning though, even at her age, Harri knew that she could easily keep pace.
Harri was sure that Mai wouldn't be happy with him when she realized she was being left at the Nara's again no matter how much she liked the clan. Though he didn't like having to leave her either. Harri just hoped that he would be able to figure out a way to get the council to allow him to quit being a Shinobi and instead allow him to do some sort of civilian job once this was all done and over with. He still couldn't understand why they ever even thought putting him and Sasuke on the same team was a good idea in the first place let alone made both of them become Shinobi. Them, technically being the last of their clan.
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"Alright now, these are heaven and earth scrolls, each team gets 1. To be able to pass this test, you need to collect both scrolls then make it to the tower in the middle of the forest using any means necessary including killing your opponents. You all have to get to the tower within 5 days, you can't leave anyone behind and if any of your teammates are dead... That's instant disqualification. If you open the scrolls before getting to your designated room in the tower... well…. There will be painful consequences. Welcome to the forest of death kids! Now collect your scroll and get your ass over to your assigned starting gates. The moment that I tell ya' to get your asses moving is the moment that the blood can start to spill. Don't disappoint brats!" Anko, the woman from the day before, said with a sadistic smile.
"Well, I'll see you later Harri! You'll do amazing! Try your best!" Choji cheerfully exclaimed, hugging his petite friend to himself before pulling away and giving him an encouraging smile.
"This is such a drag." Shikamaru grumbled, rubbing the back of his neck before giving Harrison a concerned look, "Don't let that brain of yours get you into any trouble alright? I want to see you in one piece at the finish, okay? Stay safe. You to blondie." Shikamaru grumbled, pulling Harri into a quick hug and getting a beaming smiled from an excitable Naruto.
"I'll do my best! Believe it!" Naruto eagerly agreed.
"Come on! Let's go. We don't need to watch you being fawned all over! We have something important that we actually are doing here! This is serious business, you know!" Sakura insisted, puffed up in indignation. "Isn't that right Sasuke~?" She simpered. Eying Sasuke's agitated expression. Looking smug as Harrison flinched.
Ino's eye twitched.. She wasn't exactly friends with Harri... But she had got to know the other Genin more over the last few months and Ino could... to some degree see why her teammates liked 'her' so much. And anyways Sasuke would trust Harri with his life and even as jealous as that made her that said something... But it was like Sakura felt threatened by Harri when it came to Sasuke or something by a kid nearly a full 2 years younger and not only that but by his Neice! Yeah, incest wasn't unusual in clans to keep the bloodlines pure but frankly that was freaky close and it was obvious that Harri wasn't even slightly into Sasuke! The very idea of it made Ino's stomach roll. Maybe she was maturing or she had finally become sick of Sakura being so mean to everyone all the time, not saying she herself wasn't a bully, but... Well... you didn't do that to kids like she had seen her do... or to people that couldn't really stick up for themselves. It just left a bad taste in her mouth the way the other girl treated her teammates. Ino herself often got in fights with her teammates but they would never let it affect their teamwork, unlike the other girl.
Just as Sakura went to nag Harri some more Naruto cut in before a furious looking Shikamaru or Choji could. "Sakura! Stop being so mean to Harri! Choji and Shikamaru were just being nice and trying to help with Harri's nerves! Right? They just want us to do our best!" Naruto insisted, frowning at the girl. He couldn't understand why Sakura had to keep being so mean to Harri. It wasn't like the other girl had ever done anything to her. At least that he knew... and well he didn't think that she would. Harri just wasn't like that. Anyway, shouldn't they be trying to get along or at least try to tolerate each other like he was doing his best to with Sasuke Bastard? Being in a forest of death with their lives on the line didn't seem to be the best time to start things.
"Yeah... come on... we have to go get our scroll," Sasuke said, starting to walk toward a tent impatiently.
"You'll do fine!" Choji cheerfully reassured one last time, squinting at Sakura judgmentally before giving a little wave and leaving with the rest of his team to the tent assigned to them.
"Did you see that? The way he just looked at me, him?!" Sakura hissed under her breath and grumbled about the Akimichi.
"Sakura! Hurry up!" Naruto whined.
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It wasn't more than two hours into the test when something happened to cause Harri to become so paranoid he was afraid to even sleep. Though he was already close to feeling that way from the beginning. The feeling and mindset had wholly settled in after that, though.
Naruto had to go to the bathroom and had them all stopping abruptly. Sakura had screeched when Naruto went to take a pee in front of them. Insisting that he was a pig and wouldn't be doing anything like that in front of her. Although Harri had been embarrassed and had wished that the blond had actually warned them appropriately before dropping his pants and well whipping out his…. Parts… he thought it foolish when the girl forced to leave their group to go to the bathroom.
First off, Forest of death, secondly they were a team that should have been so tight nit at that point that going to the bathroom in front of each other shouldn't have even been a thing. The situation at hand was especially dangerous and it angered Harri that Sasuke wasn't being any help at all with the situation. Instead, the Uchiha had even given him some strange narrow-eyed look that Harri had no idea what to think of. Naruto's vulnerable state ended up being taken advantage of in a way Harri hadn't even really thought of being used as someone tried tricking them into thinking they were Naruto.
Harri had been more than a little freaked out and confused when someone that didn't have the same chakra signatures as his teammate and didn't even smell anything like him wandered back, feeling of wrongness. The smell of blood from a cut Naruto had gotten on his cheek from the woman running the test was gone along with… wait? He didn't even have the cut anymore! Naruto healed fast, but not that fast. Right as Harri was about to lash out at the imposter, Sasuke knocked the guy flying. He demanded to know where Naruto was and insisted that he wasn't the real Naruto. When Sakura began shrieking at Sasuke, the normally uncaring boy pointed out that the ninja was even less observant than Naruto. That the other boy had not only had his Shuriken hoister on the wrong side(Something Harrison hadn't really noticed at the time) but that he had also forgotten all about the scratch that the blond had.
They were quick to take care of the threat of the other genin that had been foolish enough to come on his own. That didn't make Harri feel any less tense and terrified though as the smell of blood and screams coming from others in the test became louder and stronger. After that, Sasuke insisted that they created a password to prevent others from sneaking in their group again. Though Harri was a little confused why. His nose may have been becoming muddled up by the strange smells and blood created by other competitors but he doubted his nose would ever be able to be tricked into thinking someone was one of his teammates. He also was able to see right through genjutsu so he didn't think that there would be much of a problem on that end. The hair on the back of his neck had prickled as they spoke and it was easy to tell others were close by. Surely even Sasuke could tell that and yet he announced rather loudly their password.
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24 hours in and Harri was a mess. He wanted to go home and never leave the walls of the compound again. Harri tried his best to stay calm, but the sounds of screams had him on edge. He hadn't even slept for a few minutes since the second test had started and he made it clear what he thought of the others sleeping at a time like that as well, especially after they had been attacked several times already.
"Hey! Look there's fish in that stream, yata!" Naruto excitedly shrieked, making Harrison nearly jump out of his skin.
"Finally, something decent to eat!" Sakura said, eying the stream, equally as hungrily.
Harrison eyed the water in distrust, pulling a ration bar from his hip pack, and broke it in half. He nibbled at the nutrient dense log. It wasn't terrific, but Harri knew that it was safe to eat and didn't require anything that would possibly cause others to find them. He still couldn't believe that he was the only one that thought to bring something like that.
Sasuke had brought a tomato and some jerky, while Sakura had brought a small bag of trail mix and Naruto had brought nothing but a couple packages of instant ramen and a rice ball. Harri had brought 4 bars of battle grade rations, Uchiha recipe. He had made enough for Sasuke as well and had even explained to him what they were, but apparently, Sasuke didn't like the way that they tasted and decided to just leave them at home. If Harrison had known that his cousin had done that he would have just taken the rest of it and would have given the others the leftovers. He doubted he needed a full 10 bars after all. A bar to a bar and a half a day was usually able to keep a full grown adult going while being very active according to what he read so with his own heightened metabolism a bar could probably keep him going.
"Come on Harri! Help me catch some!" Naruto insisted, grabbing the smaller boy by the arm. "Please!" The blond begged, eyes shining.
"No, I'll help! This water's cold. We can't afford for him to get too cold out here." Sasuke pointed out, already wading into the water.
Naruto pouted, puffing up his cheeks. "I didn't want your help!" He growled, squawking and sputtering when something large and slimy hit him in the face.
"Not like I need your help, loser. Now, do you think you could handle gathering wood for a fire or do I have to do that myself as well?" Sasuke snarked, already holding up a string of half a dozen fish.
"You bastard!" Naruto growled, gritting his teeth together. He huffed, "Fine, let's go, Harri!" He grumbled.
"Harri help me prepare these, yeah?" Sasuke said, tone leaving no argument.
"I can help you Sasuke, I've been practicing a lot." Sakura volunteered, practically running over to the elder Uchiha with hearts in her eyes.
He grunted, then rolled his eyes when he realized she couldn't understand the Uchihan noise. "No, go help dead last," Sasuke demanded, leaning away from the girl.
"But! But! Why doesn't she have to do anything if I do?" Sakura complained, in no way wanting to be stuck on stick finding duty with Naruto.
"Harri's cooking." Sasuke pointed out.
"Fine! I get to next time, though!" Sakura exclaimed, glaring daggers at her smallest teammate.
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"We shouldn't even be making a fire. It will definitely attract others to our location." Harri pointed out even as he knew that it would make no difference.
"I'm not getting parasites from eating raw fish out here," Sasuke grumbled.
"Why did you really send them away?" Harri blurted, unable to help feel suspicious of his cousin.
"What do you mean?"
"You wanted them both gone. You can't fool me, Sasuke. I know Uchiha's and I know you best of all. What is this really about?" Harri pressed, feeling unusually bold that day.
Sasuke let out a little amused snort giving Harrison this soft sort of look that made Harri feel strangely on edge. Uncomfortable. "You've always been able to see the real me, haven't you? Only you." Sasuke said tone, incredibly wistful, longing. Sasuke honestly couldn't wait until they were both Chunnin and he swore he fell deeper in love with the green-eyed heiress every day. Honestly, he wasn't sure if he could wait to propose properly. Sasuke had planned on proposing once Harri was around 14, as not to cause a separation between the pair by the adults.
The Uchihan prince knew that some of the clan heads weren't keen on his behavior when it came to Harri…. Especially now that the Ino-Shika-Cho trio had all three began to become vocal about him. Saying he was inappropriately attached and controlling! They were meant to be together, Harri would be his wife. He just couldn't understand how he was the only one that seemed to understand that they were meant to be. Surely the Akimichi and Nara heads were just upset that Harri would be his and only his. It was okay, though. He could wait for his Harri. He would just have to show everyone how perfect they slotted together. The first step, convince the council to make he and Harri, their own Chunnin team.
"Sasuke?"
"Sorry, I thought… I might have heard something….. Anyways, I-I don't want anything happening to you." The possessive 'your mine, you're my everything, I can't EVER lose you' trying to claw its way from the black haired boy's throat. Sasuke barely managed to force all of his worries and feelings into a, "It's dangerous here."
"That's true but because of that shouldn't we be trying to all work together more, not less?"
Sasuke let out a snort, the expression on his face oddly irritated.
"Got the wood! We found a whole tree worth and its all dry this time so no smoke like when we were heading to Wave country!" Naruto proudly announced.
"Well I found blueberries and I'm sure they are blueberries because I've been studying the different berries and edible plants around here since the mission to wave country!" Sakura announced in a self-important way, giving Harri a pointed look.
"She saw birds eating them," Naruto whispered in a cheeky conspiratorial voice, eeping when Sakura growled at him though the girl was thankfully too preoccupied with keeping the berries from spilling out of the fold she had made in her dress to hit him.
"You both need to stop making so much noise, you'll give away our location," Sasuke grumbled after seeing the nervous darting of his cousin's eyes.
"Yeah yeah, I'm hungry! Let's get our grub on!" Naruto whined, eying the fish stomach suddenly growling comically loud.
"You said these mushrooms and those onion smelling things were safe, right?" Sasuke asked, practically shoving them in Harrison's face.
Harri coughed, not expecting to have the potent smell of green onion and stagnant earth flooding his nose. He leaned back and covered his nose eyes burning Harri waved his hand around his face to try and get rid of the potent stench. "Yes," He managed after a few minutes of recovery. Sakura narrowed her eyes at the dramatic display. "Don't wave stuff like that around under my nose! You practically nose blinded me!" Harri grumbled, still a bit nauseated even several minutes later.
Harri rubbed at his watery eyes and watering nose.
"You okay?" Naruto asked, nervously eyeing the wild onions and mushrooms.
"Y-yeah, the stuff isn't dangerous. It's actually really good for cooking they are just really strong smelling." Harri mumbled.
"Well, then you can use them for cooking these right?" Sasuke said, pointing at the cleaned fish.
Harri nibbled his lip. "I don't think it's a good idea to start a fire. What if someone smells it?"
Sasuke scuffed. "It's not like anyone has a nose like yours. At least other than Kiba and the worst we'll get from them is him and his mutt begging for scraps." The boy said, his whole demeanor screaming arrogance.
Harri sighed, giving in easily. He knew at that point there wasn't much that he could say to his cousin that would change his mind so Harri would just get it done as soon as possible and get it all over with. It was honestly probably safer than the sounds that an argument would attract.
All Harri felt was death all around. Not theirs… but that didn't mean that they should drop their guard, especially with… that… it was far too dangerous to be anything but about the strength of the Hokage or more… something… not far off that he narrowly managed to have them avoid the first day…. Though only just. It made Harri feel incredibly jittery. He wasn't sure if it was a danger to him, but he didn't really want to find out either especially with it stinking of flesh rot and snakes. He just wanted them to stay as unnoticeable as possible to it at that point through any means necessary.
After they ate and cleaned up Naruto loudly announced his need to go to the bathroom and Sakura once again yelled at him and insisted that he needed to leave the clearing near the stream they were set up at if he was going to do so. It made Harri nervous. He had felt flickers of chakra nearby not long before then so he warned Naruto to stay close and to be careful.
Only a minute or so later Harri felt something, something incredibly dangerous. "Run!" Harri barked, throwing himself to his feet a feeling a pure panic washing over him. He had been so focused on all of the death all around him that he hadn't noticed the snake smelling.. thing approaching, but how? He clearly felt it not too far off but the air suddenly stunk of it.
"what's up? Is everything alright guys?" Naruto asked, zipping up his pants as he came out of the bushes nearby.
"Yeah, what's the big deal Harri, why are you suddenly acting all crazy?" Sakura grumbled.
Oh, a clone… that's why. Harri couldn't help but to let out a growl something he rarely ever did. The urge to rip the thing apart that tried imitating his teammate was incredibly strong.
Sasuke chucked his kunai at the imposter with narrowed suspicious eyes after a quick glance at Harri.
"Whoa whoa, what the heck have you both gone crazy? What's up with that and the growling!"
"Naruto doesn't move like that." Sasuke snarled.
"Huh?"
Harri, eyes began darting around nervously. "We need to leave. Naruto's not close anymore…" he pointed out rubbing at his clothed arm.
"Well that wouldn't be any fun would it?" The false Naruto tutted before transforming back into their true form.
Harri nearly heaved as they did so, the smell of rightness and wrongness and rotten flesh almost dropped him. The real snake thing was there now. Taking over for the clone. It was the only explanation for the sudden much stronger scent.
Harri felt disoriented, vision blurred and woozy from the sheer overwhelming strength of the confusing foul smell short-circuiting his brain. Only after he heard the sounds of heaving did he manage to shake himself out of his confusion and focus on what was actually going on around him.
Sasuke and Sakura were on their knees, shaking and the fear of death in their eyes. What was going on? Was it a Genjutsu?
"You saw it didn't you? Your death? It will be quick, I promise, just like you saw." The feminine, though somehow not voice mocked.
Harri heard a clink and his eyes darted over to their attacker. "What are you?" Harri questioned, trying to discreetly step in front of his cousin.
The tall not female paused for a moment, looking both conflicted and intrigued.
Harri yelped as he was suddenly yanked and thrown over a shoulder. Into trees and away from the not right maybe snake demon person.
"What was that!" Sakura guffed, still sweating and trembling.
"Shush! Be quiet!" Sasuke urgently whispered, wildness in his eyes as he clung to Harri with one of his arms and to a Kunai he had shoved in his leg with the other.
"Y-your leg," Harri whispered, wide-eyed cringing as his cousin yanked it out with a pained groan.
"Oh my-" Sasuke slapped the hand that had yanked the Kunai out over Sakura's mouth and shifted to peer through the brush.
"Come out come out where every~ you are!" The slimy voice of the false human purred delightedly.
"It's okay." Harri insisted, doing his best to comfort his nearly hyperventilating cousin. "We'll all be okay." He repeated, even as terror gripped his own soul, he wasn't sure at that point if he was just trying to comfort Sasuke or himself.
The scent of snake and sound of breathing was heavy in the air, but Harri wasn't sure if it was his imagination at that point and what was real or not he felt close to flipping out, to be honest.
"A giant snake!" Sakura shrieked. Pulling their attention from the direction they had come from to the monster behind them. They barely managed to get out of the way before it was trying to gulp them down in one bite. Sasuke thankfully took the creature down though.
Harri nearly screeched in horror when the snake person burst out of the killed snake's body like a demented fungus and began to literally slither up the tree after Sasuke at breakneck speeds stretching to move and twist like an actual snake. Gross gross gross!
"Good thing I showed up!" A boisterous voice yelled after half a dozen Shuriken ended up in the wood just inches from the snake thing's face.
"Get out of here!" Sasuke yelled, glaring up at the blond.
"No way!"
"Damn it, here, you want our scroll right? Take it, you can just-just take it and leave us alone! Just leave us!" Sasuke insisted, throwing the scroll to the snake-like person.
"NO!" Naruto snarled grabbing the scroll in mid-air."We aren't cowards so you just step away creepy demon snake lady!"
"It wasn't like it was going to let us leave anyway," Harri muttered, already getting his senbon ready. They had a real chance of-of dying. This-thing was far beyond their current skill levels and… well, it was clearly most focused on Sasuke. "Naruto, we need to get out of here! That thing is far more powerful than just about anyone I've ever met its chakra…. Only the Hokage and my-my dad can compare to it!" Harri shouted, trying to get his teammates to understand, they genuinely didn't have a chance in hell at that point.
"Hm, interesting~ and how would an insignificant pipsqueak like you know so much? Maybe I should be playing with you instead." The snake said, grinning.
Harri paled.
"Hey! Leave her alone! Fight me, snake lady!" Naruto snarled.
"I don't think I will."
Harri barely had the time to throw a senbon as the snake darted at him before diving out of the way. The familiar gust of air and green light accompanied it and was followed by the ear jarring explosion of wood and a hiss of pain.
"Harri!"
"Interesting, what a power you have there child. Who was this father of yours if I may be so bold~ as to ask?" The snake purred, holding its arm. It just managed to drop out of the way when Harri threw a Kunai straight at its head.
Another explosion resounded and Harri couldn't help but to feel disoriented by the reverb.
"No matter, you're clearly terrified. But…" The snake smiled sneakily. "No matter there is something about you…. I think I wish to give you a gift." They purred in a near whisper with a secretive look like it was sharing something with a dear friend.
Harri went to jump away but slipped on the wet moss that coated the particular branch they were on like a carpet and instead of being propelled away he ended up slamming his face into the branch below and sharp pain suddenly flared up in his neck. Horrible excruciating pain that began to burn and radiate outward and made him feel like his blood was turning to ice.
"H-a-rri no!" A distorted voice yelled, enraged. "Do som-ing Sas-e"
In minutes all Harri could hear was the loud gush of his heart pumping and throbbing and the pain in his body and how painful it even was to breath. Eventually, eons later he felt a terribly cold burning and it hurt so bad he wanted to beg for it to stop maybe for it all to end, but he could hardly exert the effort to breath let alone open his mouth. When he finally mustered up the energy to open his eyes, all he saw was light everywhere so much so that it was more excruciating somehow then the pain the rest of him was in. Harri swore for a moment he had a faint whiff of Shika's scent, but he had been in that dark and pain so long it could have been fabricated by his imagination.
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"Hey there, sunshine. How are you feeling?" Was followed by what sounded suspiciously like sniffles.
Harri whimpered as light and sound and the familiar voice of his jounin teacher suddenly hit him. He hurt so bad, so so bad. Harri just-he just wanted Shika and Shikaku and… well he knew he wouldn't be seeing his father, so he tried his best not to want him the most. "Hurts, too-too mu'ch, so-mu." Harri managed to wheeze. His throat felt like fire had been poured down it.
"Get out of the way! Harri! Harri! I heard Harri was waking up!" The familiar voice of Shikamaru yelled with more vigor than Harri had heard from him in a long time. With the same type of desperate fear.. as he had heard as a child when he had nearly died all of those years ago. It was horrible.
"S-ika."
"Harri? Harri!" Shikamaru shouted again, forcing his way past the guards and practically draped himself over the other boy uncaring of who was in the room. When he saw him, he was so sure he was going to lose him! Gray and pale and looking with strange unseeing eyes that glowed with strange dark green circle of color around their centers that he had never seen before. Even when he probably knew his best friends unique eyes better than anyone. They had been terrifyingly blank and cold as the storm that had started up apparently not long after Harri had gotten bitten. Shikamaru didn't think his heart could take something like that happening again. He was so angry at himself, at Harri's team, but especially at Sasuke! The Uchiha had apparently been such a coward he hadn't even tried to move to do anything until Naruto stepped in long after Harri had been poisoned by some creepy snake ninja!
"I'm so glad you made it! I-I was- you looked like you weren't going to make it when we showed up. I thought you were going to-… It didn't stop storming until a few minutes ago. One of the worst storms I've ever heard of! It went on for days and it was like… like the heavens… just never mind. I'm.. just happy you will be okay. I never want to see you like this, not… like last time. I won't let this happen to you again." The pineapple haired teen promised, feeling like a total mess. He knew that Harri wouldn't judge him for it, though. This little crack and that was all that mattered to him at the moment. Harri.
The only person Shikamaru's affection for could easily rival his parents not that he didn't adore Choji and not that he wouldn't try his best to do everything in his power for his friend, but Harri had been everything to him since they were both tiny. He wasn't sure exactly what his affection for the other boy could be classified as but he knew what they had was a special type of bond that had always had him willing to try to move not just mountains but planets for the other boy. He wanted to be better for the other boy. To try harder.
"S-sake what 'append him? Snake—focused on him." Harri managed to get out with extreme difficulty, now that he was a little more awake the feeling of needing to throw up was just on the edge of not being able to resist. Feeling much like snakes were writhing in his stomach.
Kakashi's face came into view grim.
"Well…." He began, hesitant.
"he doesn't need to be hearing that!" Someone hissed next to him, swatting the platinum-haired man's arm. It took a few moments for Harri to realize it was Iruka. The man's face was pale and worried. He turned and gave Harri a tired smile. "He will be fine. He doesn't have much more than a few bumps and bruises!"
Harri wasn't so sure about that but he didn't get the chance to focus on that for too long. Sudden sharp pains started up in Harri's stomach; each one elevating his nausea little by little and moved up inside of him higher and higher.
"Hey, are you okay?" Shikamaru asked, looking alarmed when Harri moaned and curling in on himself clutching at his stomach.
"Iruka, go get that medic," Kakashi said, grabbing the empty bucket next to him once Harri began heaving.
Shikamaru grimaced and began rubbing at his friend's back, clenching his teeth at Harri's clearly pain induced writhing.
"Here we go. Let it all out." Kakashi encourage, carefully dragging Harri to sit up a bit more and positioned his head to hang over the bucket he was holding and the boy did. He went stiff at the smell of iron and sick and something almost putridly rotten and decidedly snakish that filled the air. A mixture of sludge like black and a hint of dark red filled the bucket like an overly thick syrup.
"Hatake sir, what has happened?"
"I'm…. Not so sure myself."
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"What that's impossible! How could she just force out his chakra? Even if their chakra isn't compatible, she shouldn't have reacted that way. It should have either killed her or molded her own chakra into creating the seal instead, not react like it was some deadly disease or something! I've never even heard of someone throwing up a curse like that! What is that kid? I've met plenty of shinobi that are at least part demon, but I've never heard of a single one of them able to do that. I mean… Damn, able to reject a perfected cursed mark and not just live but within hours are able to stand up and go take a piss. That's some supernatural level shit right there!"
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"Hey, Harri! You're up! Man, I was worried you looked awful… well, you um still kind of do but you looked you know like 'I'm gonna die' awful and that was really scary! I'm really glad you'll be alright, though!" Naruto enthusiastically exclaimed scratching at a cheek as he grinned ear to ear.
Harri tried not to show how wrong he felt Naruto's chakra was. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion at how little of the intimidating, aggressive older demon chakra he felt radiating from the other boy. Something wasn't right, particularly with Naruto's stomach? Harri was still not totally with it and wasn't able to figure out what the issue was. He honestly felt like a strong wind could easily knock him over and his whole body ached terribly.
"I-I'm going to try to get some more sleep," Harri said, voice quiet and scratchy. He still felt utterly exhausted but throwing up whatever that weird goop was had apparently vastly improved his health. Harri didn't even care at that point what Kakashi thought when he felt the man's concerned eyes narrow on him. All he felt now was strangely hollowed and haunted and somehow both numbed and overly raw at the same time.
"But Harri! We need to find everyone else and figure out who got through!" Naruto whined.
"I thought you were dim, but you have to be a total idiot not to get that she needs rest Naruto! Gesh, give the poor girl a break, I mean she literally was on death's doorstep barely a day ago from getting poisoned! I bet you, if bug boy didn't show up we wouldn't have had any chance of saving her at all! Chakra poisoning is about as bad as it gets you know and not many people survive it let alone can get up so soon after getting it!" Ino sniped, hands on her hips as she lectured the boy. She turned to Harri looking at him, "you shouldn't be up yet! You would think as much as Shikamaru fusses over you that he would be on the same page." She huffed throwing her hands in the air like an exasperated parent.
"It is fine. I will stay with Harri until Shikamaru gets back from speaking with his father." A sunglass wearing dark brown haired boy said.
Ino grimaced. "Why would you want to do that bug boy?"
The taller young teen twitched but quickly smoothed his features over. "Why do I wish to stay with Harri you ask? Well, that is a simple question as I am both concerned for and fond of the company of Harri, that is why. It is no hardship to me or bother, I assure you." Shino explained in his usual, almost detached manner.
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"I have been meaning to try and get you alone for some time. Why you may ask yourself? That is simple, because I have reason to believe that you are not only not a female or at least not in the conventional human sense…. But not even human. How I came to such a conclusion you may ask yourself? Because of a mixture between observation over the years, we have known each other and because of my insects, that is how I have come to such a startling conclusion."
"Ex-excuse me?"
End Chapter 15
I hope everyone likes this and trust me; this is nowhere near the bombshell that will be dropped on you in the next chapter. I'm still freaking out as the next chapter decided to write its self! Like you all have no clue, pardon my language, the total mind fuck that you all will be bombarded with!
By the way, I am nearly done with not only the next chapter for this story but most of my other stories including my new My Hero Academia crossover which is pretty dark, another My Hero academia story in the making, and because of the new chapter's bombshell I am having some musings for another Naruto Harry crossover fic.
Also, I got on the Dean's list so whoot whoot! Now just working like crazy to try and get back into school again this year. But still, my hard work paid off! 😊
By the way please vote on my poll who you want Harry within my new my hero academia story that isn't published yet! I am super open to poll suggestions being added.
PLEASE REVIEW! I really love knowing what everyone is thinking and often us your feedback to come up with ideas for my stories!
Also, I would love to know if you guys like the idea of maybe making another story similar to this one except for a different character raising Harri… Not going to name who yet. It would still be Harri being raised but in different circumstances by someone who is actually a demon or at least mostly.
Next Chapter hint: Unnerving questions and legacies found